Binoculars are a real case of "seeing is believing".
and until one actually looks through a pair of good binoculars - "optical quality" doesn't mean anything.
I used to buy cheapo binoculars - because afterall the specs say 8x32 or whatever - so they should be as good as other 8x32 - right?
Not only that shouldn't higher magnifications like 10x, 16x and even 20x be better to see more clearly?
NOTHING can be further from the truth -
Many years ago I happened to be reading "Consumer Reports" - and saw they had a binoculars test - read through it and was convinced enough to buy a slightly more expensive pair - the Nikon Venturer II 8x23 - and boy, was I amazed.... an almost similar/parallel experience that Stephen Ingaham describes in -
A Pocket Full of Birds - Compact Binoculars
Sometime in the early 1990's I had my friends with 10x, 12x and even 16x binoculars compare theirs with my Nikon 8x23 - they were simply amazed by the Nikon's clarity and brightness/contrast compared to their monsters - not only that we were able to show quite conclusively that one could actually see detail better with the lower magnifcation Nikons (test was to read a newspaper from a distance - the Nikons were able to read much further away when the higher magnifaction binos failed).
Now these Nikon Venturer II 8x23 have long been discontinued -
but the good news is with technology advances good compact binos have improved.....
however unfortunately cheapos are still cheapos -
but one can buy very good compact binoculars easily for under $100 or even under $50..... so why even think about buying cheapos when binoculars last a lifetime?
Reading that survey of reviewing the reviewers -
Binoculars Review
The suggested Konica Minolta 8x25 Water Resistant Sport Mini Binocular can be found for under $50.
Even the highly praised
Olympus Magellan 8x25 can be found for under $100........
QUOTE:
Compact binoculars are much easier to carry for long periods, since they often weigh half that of full-sized or mid-sized models. Since their objective lenses are smaller in diameter (20mm to 25mm), compact models allow less light to enter the barrels, making for a somewhat dimmer view. For outside daytime use, compacts are a good, lightweight choice, but they won't do as well in twilight or other low-light situations. Outside Magazine's editors call the Olympus Magellan 8x25 (*est. $125) "pretty sweet for tiny binos." Sharpness, clarity and the ability to hold their own in low light make these a 2004 "Killer Buy." A focusing ring positioned a bit far forward was the only negative with these compacts.
The Olympus Magellan weighs just 12 ounces, the lightest of any model in our chart. Although field of view is 315 feet, the Magellan's nearest focal distance is 30 feet, so they are not the best choice for closer observations, such as insects and butterflies.
UNQUOTE
Note the take that the Olympus Magellan 8x25 close focus is 30ft may be wrong - check
Olympus's own specs which says 3m (=~10ft) - but please confirm this for yourself before any purchase.
The best way of seeing is compare binoculars of reputed quality side-by-side -
then decide for yourself.
--
Vincent
http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net
)
